At Simpson’s in the Strand, chess has long been part of the fabric of the house. In the 19th century, players gathered here beneath the chandeliers to test nerve, judgement and patience over the chess board, making Simpson’s one of London’s great homes of the game. Yet our interest in chess extends beyond history.
We have often thought there is something in chess that speaks quietly to hospitality itself. Hospitality, like chess, is the art of reading the room before making the move. No two services, like no two games, ever unfold the same way. The same room, the same rituals – but every table, every guest, every evening asks something different of us.
In chess, there are lines to follow, but also spaces to interpret. We think the same may be true of restaurants. Lines guide us. Spaces define us.
It seems only fitting, then, to bring this tradition back to Simpson’s, not only to celebrate its rich chess history, but to consider what the game might still teach us about the pleasures of good hospitality.
We are delighted to announce a new series of chess evenings at Simpson’s in the Strand, hosted by our newly appointed Director of Chess, Jason Kouchak.
In keeping with Simpson’s long association with the game, these gatherings will offer guests the opportunity to experience chess in rather unusual and entertaining forms. Beginning with a simultaneous exhibition against Grand Master Stuart Conquest, following on to blindfold chess with Grand Master Luke McShane, and finishing with some fun – Jazz Chess. No two occasions promise to be quite alike.
Naturally, bespoke cocktails shall be served throughout.
Further details will follow in due course. To be among the first to hear of forthcoming dates and reservations, we warmly encourage you to sign up to our newsletter.
Host of the series and newly appointed Director of Chess at Simpson’s in the Strand, Jason Kouchak is a classical pianist who has played chess since the age of six. Over the years, he has organised chess events and productions worldwide, exploring the game through performance, visualisation techniques and creative interpretation.
For Jason, chess extends beyond competition. As he reflects: “The important life skills of managing lines and spaces on a chessboard help a new generation of players to focus, think ahead and understand the art of movement in everyday life.”
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